Bull-y boys told: Lay off Jimmy

The workaholic midfielder returns to Hull tomorrow night after leaving when his demand for more money was rejected.

Hodgson said: “Jimmy was a firm favourite and he should get the welcome he deserves.”

He believes Bullard’s latest knee injury proved Fulham were right not to cave in to his demands for a new deal.

The playmaker was out for 18 months after surgery and suffered again on his City debut. Hodgson said: “He was named in an England squad and asked for more.

“I can’t say when dealing with a four-year contract with a 31-year-old you don’t think about a serious knee problem.” Fulham’s Norway skipper Brede Hangeland says the dressing room is a lot quieter without Bullard.

Hangeland, set to sign a new four-year deal despite interest from Arsenal, said: “He was fun and something always happened when he was around.”

Hull boss Phil Brown, however, believes Kevin Kilbane will be the player to inspire a second battle against relegation.

Kilbane, 32, arrived from Wigan in January and is currently playing at centre half, from where he helped inspire Hull’s victory over Wigan. It’s the latest in a number of positions he has dropped into at Hull since moving from Wigan.

Brown said: “Kevin has brought a steely calmness to our team when it has mattered, and his experience has been invaluable.

“The fruits of a long career are coming out, and we are getting the benefits of it.”